Autopsy: Rockwell City officer died of chest wound

DES MOINES (AP) — A Rockwell City police officer killed during a standoff died from a gunshot wound to his chest, according to an autopsy released Monday.

The autopsy by the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office found that officer Jamie Buenting, 37, was killed by the chest wound. It also certified the death as a homicide.

Gerard Meyers, assistant director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said the wound was in the upper chest-lower neck region.

Buenting was shot early Friday as he and other officers attempted to go inside a house to arrest Corey Trott, 32, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant for assault.

Also Monday, a criminal complaint filed with Calhoun County District Court said Buenting was within a few feet of the house when Trott fired a single shot from a .233 caliber rifle, The Des Moines Register reported. Trott surrendered to authorities a few hours later. Trott faces a first-degree murder charge and is being held at the Sac County Jail.

A phone number for his attorney went unanswered Monday.

The hours-long standoff began Thursday night after someone called 911 to report Trott was in the house. Authorities set up a perimeter around the house after they were unable to make contact with him.

Trott later told authorities in an interview that he knowingly fired the rifle at a police officer, according to the complaint.

Buenting, who died at a nearby hospital, was an eight-year veteran of the small town’s police department. A funeral will be held Tuesday afternoon.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad also ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday in honor of Buenting.